Aurei of Westmark -- Book 1 Chronicles of Aurei

Duke Gamel Bugley took a big chance when he found the Drow baby in the wreckage of the Elven coach, floating in Westmark's millpond. Now, 73 years later, the Duke is near death and lacking an heir. Will Aurei, now a blossoming young woman working in Gamel's tavern, 'The Muddy Boot', be able to survive without the Duke's protection, as the town is threatened by the shadowy minions of the Necromancer's Guild?
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Chapters:

Aurei was relieved to learn that Krys had taken care of Leah and
the girl had actually fallen asleep due no doubt to exhaustion
from the horror she had experienced. There was no rest for the
Drow girl though, as she busily ordered a guard of ten men on
horseback to constantly ride a patrol around the outskirts of the
town to watch for any of the Necromancer Guild's raiding party
that might still be in the vicinity.

Although the Inn and much of the town was awake, having been
alerted of the events of the previous night, Aurei told the Inn
personnel to get some rest before the King's caravan arrived
later in the day. So she took it upon herself to prepare
breakfast for all those who had accompanied her to the Flydros
farm. The Muddy Boot did not usually open that early, but had a
generous pantry of breakfast food for its workers. Fortunately
for those who sat rather somberly together eating, Aurei had
spent many years in the kitchen and was an excellent cook, though
since she began serving in the tavern, she seldom used her
skills.

"Duchess, are ye gonna eat?" Thorm asked her as she pulled out a
side of bacon from the enchanted cooling chest that Gamel had
spent a huge sum having made when she was a small child.

"I'll eat later." she answered, too tired to bother to correct
the Dwarf on addressing her as Duchess.

"Ye are dead on your feet, lass." He continued.

"I've got a hundred chores to do today. We have to get
everything in order for the King and his party this evening.
Not to mention the meal following father's funeral tomorrow.
The town will be packed, Thorm, and all the visitors will be
staying either here or at the Keep, and most all of them will be
dining here. Add to that, I have to finish cleaning the Keep
for Pinel. I'm not sure how I will ever get that big old magic
chest of stuff down those stairs and over here…"

"Not to worry!" Pectros interrupted, "I had my men take it over
here. It took six of them to carry it! They put it in the
cellar inside your room down there… if that is okay?"

Aurei actually smiled, "Perfect, thank you Pectros. I think
that is the safest place for me to stay once Pinel gets here.
He'd probably yell and scream if I took father's old room here at
the Inn."

"Why? He never slept here."

"Oh, Pinel will think that is his reserved room as Duke. Then
he'd grumble about me taking one of the upstairs rooms for
myself. So I think my old cellar room is the best choice - we
can't use it for guests, and it doesn't have any windows. It
gives most people the creeps sleeping there. But it is perfect
for an evil dark elf like me."

Thorm and Pectros grimaced at her self defamation but said
nothing.

***

Tired as she was, she still had no time to sit and talk, and
Aurei found herself forgoing sleep for the busyness of the day.
She changed back into her hated barmaid dress, very glad to give
her feet a rest from the strange high heeled boots of the suit of
armor. Aurei's muscles ached from the fight with the undead the
night before, but she had no time to slow down or rest as it fell
upon her shoulders to ready everything for the King as well as
for Pinel. The thought of him sent acid into her stomach - she
doubted she could win over the annoying little man, but she had
no option but to try to get him to at least accept her as a part
of the town.

Fortunately for her, she had great help from the tavern workers
as well as the staff of the Keep and things flowed very smoothly.
She spent the morning helping in the tavern kitchen, baking and
running errands for supplies around town. Westmark was abuzz
today and all the merchants were readying their stores for the
royal visit. She usually enjoyed the excitement that filled the
air on holidays and special occasions, but the events of the last
week rendered her immune to it this time. The weather didn't
cooperate either, for by early afternoon dark clouds had moved in
and soon a heavy rain fell that seemed to only highlight her
mood.

All the preparations done at the Inn as well as at the Keep,
Aurei stood on the front porch of the Muddy Boot staring out at
the heavy rain that was quickly turning the dirt and stone road
through town into a maze of puddles. It was nearly sundown when
a message arrived from the Royal caravan. A rider who looked as
if he swam the whole way gave the message - the rain was delaying
the caravan, but they were determined to make it there before
dawn. With a sigh of resignation, Aurei ordered the rider to
come inside, dry off and have a warm meal, and she looked after
the Inn's other patrons.

Many had arrived the previous day, so the Muddy Boot was filled
with several nobles - mostly the dukes of the neighboring duchies
and their families, many of whom Aurei knew. Duke Frampbrum of
Dullerm had long been a friend of her father as his duchy
bordered Westmark and was somewhat similar, though it was a
larger duchy made up of rich farmland. Lady Frampbrum had not
really cared for Aurei until recently, when to her surprise, the
Duchess seemed to have at least grown to accept her.

"Duchess, would you care for some more wine?" Aurei asked as she
personally waited on their table. Lady Frampbrum looked up at
her and actually smiled.

"I am fine, my dear… can you sit for a minute and talk to me?"

Though she was quite busy with the crowd in the Inn, Aurei was so
surprised at the request that she immediately pulled up a chair
and complied.

"I haven't spoken to you in quite some time and I was wondering
whom the King will select to replace Gamel?"

Aurei tried to seem pleasant as she answered, "I suspect it will
be Pinel Sheldos."

"Gamel's nephew?" The lady seemed surprised.

"Well, Pinel thinks so; he sent me a dispatch earlier in the week
saying that he expected to be named Duke and ordering me to
remove my belongings from the Keep."

"Really? How awful! Did you comply?"

"Oh yes, I finished last night after our little battle with the
Necromancer's Guild. He's riding with the King, so he should be
here sometime this night."

"I must tell you something, Aurei. I don't want to offend you,
but I will be frank - when my husband and I were introduced to
you some years ago when we ascended to the Dukedom, I was not at
all thrilled to see a Drow child living amongst humans. It
deeply bothered me and I privately told my husband that Gamel was
a fool to adopt you. But I have watched you for several years
now as you have grown into a delightful young lady and you have
been very faithful to your adopted father as well as to your
community. I want to tell you that I was very wrong about you
and I respect the care you gave to your father during his final
days." The lady took Aurei's hand and squeezed it.

"Lady Frampbrum, thank you, it means a lot to me to have your
respect. My father considered your husband and you as his close
friends."

"I hope that we both may now consider you our friend." The lady
smiled.

"I am most honored, Duchess. You may indeed."

"If you are forced to leave Westmark due to Pinel, I want you to
know you will be welcome in Dullerm."

"Thank you Duchess, I hope it will not come to that, as I plan to
try to get along with Pinel, but it is a great comfort to know."

The Duchess leaned in close to Aurei, "Confidentially, I am not
at all fond of Pinel Sheldos. He is not of the same rank of
character of Gamel and I suspect he will never be as respected as
your father was in this community."

Aurei nodded, "I fear you are right, Duchess."

***

The busyness of the Inn only intensified as the evening
progressed. Aurei rushed from table to table serving orders,
wiping up spills, collecting plates, filling flagons and trying
her best to avoid the drunk, mostly flirtatious men who seemed to
want to touch, pinch or squeeze certain parts of her anatomy.
It was nearly midnight when a Keep guard handed her a message
written minutes before in the flowery handwriting of Pinel:

The King and I have arrived. His majesty is tired from the
journey and wishes to take to bed immediately. The Keep is in
order and I find it satisfactory. Have

Breakfast prepared and waiting for The King and I by an hour past
sunrise tomorrow morning. He wishes to speak to both of us
following Gamel's service.

You know what is expected of you, do not fail to do your very
best.

Pinel S.

Duke of Westmark

She threw the note down on the bar with a disgusted snort and
forced herself to focus on emptying out the rather rowdy patrons
as quickly as she could so she would have time to finish
cleaning.